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“…Pipe Fox?” (Tougo)
I asked, and the fox puffed its chest out over my hand. It also spread its fluffy tail wide as if to show it off. Yes, it has nine tails. Because of this, this fox has become a fox with tails larger than its body.
The tail and body are a little unbalanced, which is somehow cute.
“Um… Woah, hey, wait a minute! Wh-what’s wrong?” (Tougo)
But I panicked. I was so shocked, because the Pipe Fox had climbed out of my hand and started to crawl into my shirtsleeve…
I didn’t think it was possible, but in fact, it was inside my sleeve. Was it big enough to fit inside my shirtsleeve? Even though I am small, I felt like my sleeves would be full of grit if they got inside my sleeves…
Even though my arms felt fluffy… My sleeves were didn’t felt too tight. Hmmm, it’s really a mysterious creature after all.
After that, I was made into a Pipe Fox playground.
It went up my shirt sleeve, through my shirt, and out the hem of my shirt.
Next, it ran down my leg, down to the ground, in through the hem of my pants… tickling my leg as it climbed up and out between my belly and belt.
“…as expected, it’s not impossible for it to move there.” (Tougo)
I don’t think it was a gap that a Pipe Fox’s body could fit through by any stretch of the imagination, but strangely enough, the Pipe Fox came through the gap. Eventually it came back onto my hand again, where it started wagging its tail.
Hmmm… Apparently, Pipe Foxes have a talent for getting into tight spaces. Maybe their bodies are liquid or something. Well, that part, well, it’s a fantasy creature, so I’ll just have to accept it.
“I’ve prepared a place for you to live. …Which one would you like?” (Tougo)
Then I decided to put bamboo tubes and jewels in front of the Pipe Fox.
The Pipe Fox, without hesitation, went into the smallest among the bamboo tubes.
“…No matter how you look at it, it is a cylinder that shouldn’t fit its body.” (Tougo)
“Yeah… I might be able to put it anywhere if it’s this cylinder.” (Tougo)
When Laocles and I looked at it, only the tip of the tail popped out of the small bamboo cylinder and swished. Hmm, I don’t know how it works.
…In the end, the Pipe Fox chose one bamboo tube and one jewel. But then, it seems that he chose the bamboo tube to enter. Now it is beautifully contained in the bamboo tube.
Apparently, he wanted the jewelry as well as the bamboo tube. I wonder. Is the bamboo tube like a vacation home?
“Come on out.” (Tougo)
But when I call out to him, he comes out of the bamboo tube. And then he slipped into my shirtsleeve.
…Hmmm.
“Perhaps you like the sleeves better than the bamboo tube?” (Tougo)
I asked, and the Pipe Fox jumped out of the sleeve, and then made a cheerful “kon” sound as if to say, “Yes, I do.”
Really. The Pipe Fox cries “kon”. Well, I was a little surprised, very similar with what I imagined.
“Um, but if you stay in my sleeve all the time, it tickles me…” (Tougo)
Apparently, the Pipe Fox can get into anything that is tubular to some degree. However, if it stays in my sleeve, it tickles me… so I usually ask it to stay in a jewel or bamboo tube.
Then I prepared a meal for the Pipe Fox.
Since foxes are supposed to be omnivores, I prepared fruits and bamboo fruits for now. And fried tofu. I drew some and materialize them.
When I put them in front of the Pipe Fox, they ate all of them without any problem. However, he took a bite of the bamboo fruit and made a face like “What the heck is this?” The Houou saw this and gave a confused look like, “It’s delicious,” but, well, everyone has their own taste.
After that, I suddenly became sleepy, so I decided to sleep quietly. Maybe I ran out of magic power. So, as usual, I sleep on the hammock.
“Good night.” (Tougo)
As I lay down to sleep, a phoenix flew up and settled down beside me.
Furthermore, a fox crawled into my shirtsleeve.
Both of them were a little ticklish… but before I realized, I was already unconscious.
… I was supposed to have slept on the hammock, but when I came to, I was on the bed.
And on top of me, the Pipe Fox is curled up and sleeping, and next to me, the Houou is curled up and sleeping.
It seemed that I had been carried from the hammock to the bed.
I looked out the window and wondered why.
The leaves of the trees in the forest were shining as drops fell from them. The fallen leaves on the ground are moist and wet.
In other words, it rained.
I went outside and smelled the fresh scent of the forest after the rain. As I was taking a deep breath… I suddenly came across a strange sight.
“… they’re gathering.”
In the forest after the rain. In the forest after the rain, by the side of freshly watered bamboo. Horses… and not just Unicorns, but also Pegasi, all gathered and wandering around the bamboo.
What is this all about?
As I watched the unicorns’ behavior, suddenly one of them neighs.
The unicorn proudly raises its horns as it cries out,
“……woah.” (Tougo)
That’s when I found out. What was the purpose of the unicorns? Why are unicorns proud?
…The unicorns seemed to be exploring the ground.
The horn that was raised was dirty with mud, but above all…
At the tip of its horn was a bamboo shoot.
“You’ve been taking care of the bamboo for me.” (Tougo)
When I stroked the unicorn, it proudly raised its horns.
Apparently, they had sensed a crisis in the forest. They must have spotted the bamboo shoots that were growing after the rain, discovered them early, and dug them up.
This is amazing. It’s very helpful. I was worried about the bamboo management if it was just me and Laocles. At worst, I was going to paint it and restore it to its original state, but after all, there’s nothing better than being able to manage it with a little help…
I turned to the unicorn again and decided to ask them for a favor.
“…I would like you guys to continue to help monitor the bamboo shoots.” (Tougo)
The horses neigh dependably. Now I have one less thing to worry about. Thank you very much for your help.
Later that day, I went to the Redgarde house that same day to report to Fay about my summoned beasts.
“Hee. You summoned some mysterious creatures.” (Fay)
Faced with Houou and Pipe Fox, Fay kept observing them with curiosity in his eyes.
“They are kind of like you, aren’t they?” (Fay)
“I don’t think so.” (Tougo)
I’m not as magnificent as the Houou and I’m not as nimble as the Pipe Fox.
“Well, I’m glad you seem to get along well.” (Fay)
“Laocles says I should materialize at least two more of them.” (Tougo)
When I said so, Laocles, who was behind me, nodded with a face that seemed to say “Of course”. It seems that he is a little uneasy with just the Houou and Pipe Fox.
“Well, let’s wait until your sealing tool is completely removed. There’s still the last step to go.” (Fay)
“Yes.” (Tougo)
My magic control has definitely improved. However, if I were to increase the number of summoned beasts, I felt that it would be better to wait until there was no need to worry about my magic control.
“But for the time being, this is, to some extent, a relief…” (Fay)
… I don’t know why Fay kept repeating that, then he looked at me and said,
“Hey, Tougo, are you interested in parties?” (Fay)
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